Windows XP Embedded End Of Support Dates

Windows Embedded products have their own distinct support lifecycles, based on when the product was released and made generally available Windows XP End of Support is on 8th April 2014, but the following Windows Embedded products based on Windows XP have different dates for End of Support:

• Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems, Extended Support will end on April 8, 2014.
• Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 3 (SP3), Extended Support will end on Jan. 12, 2016.
• Windows Embedded for Point of Service SP3, Extended Support will end on April 12, 2016.
• Windows Embedded Standard 2009, Extended Support will end on Jan. 8, 2019.
• Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, Extended support will end on April 9, 2019.

The power of money, huh? The "Embedded" versions are typically used by giant (read: deep pocket) companies with 10s of 1000s of dedicated computers/workstations performing the same tasks over and over again. Sure, MS wants them to upgrade now, but they don't want them moving on to an alternative OS when they do get around to spending $millions upgrading - so MS is trying to keep them placid. Plus, most of these dedicated systems are stand-alone systems or connected to isolated "intranet" or VPNs and don't have access to the "Internet" - meaning they are not exposed to the malware threats of the "outside world".

I note the vast majority (something near 95% ) of the millions of bank ATMs around the world use XP Embedded. That said, because ATMs connect via VPNs, and don't have open access to (or from) the Internet the reported horrors stories of late by fear-mongers trying to sensationalize the mundane to increase viewer ratings (for example, see CNN and TechZim, and Business Insider), are simply another example of irresponsible, unprofessional, and untrue reporting by the media and attention-seeking, wannabe-expert bloggers . Sure, ATM systems can be hacked, but it is extremely difficult and rare. By far, most hacks are done by the use of skimming devices (covert card readers).

No doubt these "Embedded" systems do need to come off XP and onto a modern, secure operating system too - but not immediately as some would like us to believe. And for sure, home standard XP users and other users of standard XP versions need to upgrade immediately, or plan on taking those systems "off line" - if for no other reason than to prevent those systems from being compromised and then used remotely by the badguy as a weapon against the rest of us.